The South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists’ Association (SISSTA) will hold its 43rd annual convention in Chennai during July 26-27.
The event comprises a 2-day seminar and an exhibition. Several industry leaders are expected to participate including R. V. Vatnal, President SISSTA; A. Vellayan, Murugappa Group; M. Manickam, President, South Indian Sugar Mills Association; Ram Tyagarajan, Thiru Arooran Sugars; and Palani G. Periasamy, Dharini Sugars and Chemicals. Mahesh Kasirajan, Director of Sugar, and Tamil Nadu Cane Commissioner and Benhar Mahesh Dutt Ekka, Commissioner of Sugar and Cane for Andhra Pradesh, will deliver special address.
Rajshree Pathy, Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals, will be felicitated.
In the technical sessions, experts will present papers and discusstechnical issues relating to cane and sugar, including cogeneration and engineering aspects.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by The Hindu Bureau / July 23rd, 2013
Sneha Agarwal strikes a pose with her headset. EPS
I’m a DJ by choice,” says Sneha Agarwal. The 23-year-old comes across as fresh and inspired as any youngster, and is fiercely independent about her career space. Invited to be one of the judges for the recent War of the DJs competition that took place at High Time at GRT Grand, the Kolkata girl is all praise for what she has seen so far.
“Chennai has a lot of talent. I’m sure everybody is going to do great,” she smiles. Then adds nervously, “I’ve told the organisers I don’t want to judge,” she wrings her hands, “I love playing my music, but putting other people down is kind of difficult for me,” she confides seriously.
So what is Sneha’s kind of sound? “Oh! House every time,” she beams. “I started out with hip hop when I was learning how to work a console in college, but once I heard EDM, I just couldn’t get enough.”
Interestingly, this lady DJ is an accountancy graduate. “But DJ-ing is my passion,” she clarifies. “I mean this is what I choose to pursue as a career.”
For conservative parents, who think the idea is hogwash, Sneha has already proven that the profession can bring in some serious business.
“In two-and-a-half years, I’ve been to 10 cities — just to party,” the EDM-addict is radiant. This includes a few international trips as well. Asked about unpredictable crowds while travelling and Sneha thinks for a moment. “When I was playing at Kenya a few months ago,” she recalls, “I noticed that the resident DJ at the club was mixing in a lot of Bollywood tunes — that was a big surprise!”
The biggest perks of the job have to be the travel and that it can never quite get routine. Sneha states, “This is why I haven’t considered a regular club gig, I’d rather freelance and take each show as it comes.”
And when on the job, this DJ makes it a point to dress the part. “Hotpants,” she giggles. One has to admit, hotpants and headphones do make a lethal combination.
Also, the number of female DJ in the country being so few, it takes an easy guess to figure that Sneha has several lady proteges and others on the waiting list. She giggles in response, “Well a lot of people in general post me messages on Facebook, requesting lessons.” She goes on, “But I always refuse,” and smiles, “I just want to play my music.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Sonali Shenoy, ENS / July 18th, 2013
The clinic will manage all forms of chronic pain in a multi-modal way / . Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
Stanley Hospital has launched an integrated pain clinic that treats everything for ouches to yowls.
There are all sorts of pain, and each requires a specific treatment. Given this, an accurate diagnosis is important. Sometimes, when doctors cannot arrive at an easy conclusion about a pain, the patient is tossed from one department to another.
Now, the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital has launched an integrated pain clinic that packs facilities to identify and treat all kinds of physical pain.
“The incidence of pain in the community is 30 per cent, more than that of diabetes and hypertension. Hence, there is a need for comprehensive pain clinics,” says S. S. Sukumar, assistant professor, Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Department of Plastic Surgery at the hospital.
The clinic, which was launched recently, will manage all forms of chronic pain in a multi-modal way, says Dr. Sukumar. “We will do this with the cooperation of many specialities such as a pain speciality, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, occupational specialty, medicine specialty and interventional radiology,” he says.
Dr. Sukumar and P. Mahendran, anaesthesiologist of the department, have undergone training in interventional pain practice at centres in Delhi and Kolkata.
Pain lasting for more than three months could be termed chronic, says Sukumar. For instance, it could be trigeminal neuralgia – pain in the face with a shock-like sensation. This is triggered by swallowing, chewing or even a blow of wind on the face. Or, it can be back pain due to disc collapse, he explains.
“For this, we will inject ozone gas into the disc under X-ray guidance. The ozone will shrink the disc. Most of the treatments are knife-less day care procedures done under local anaesthesia. Patients can go home after a couple of hours. The procedures involve locating the pain-causing nerve,” he says.
S. Geethalakshmi, dean of the hospital, says the clinic will provide treatment for chronic pain under one roof. The clinic functions on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Downtown / by Serena Josephine M / July 27th, 2013
Lakshin received a certificate from ASSIST World Records Research Foundation for identifying 210 car brands and models in 6.45 minutes. | EPS
If you are wondering what a six-year-old boy can do in less than seven minutes, meet S Lakshin, who can identify brands of 210 cars in that brief span of time.
Lakshin, a class one student of a city school, received a certificate from ASSIST World Records Research Foundation for identifying 210 car brands and models in 6.45 minutes, in the city recently.
According to the organisers, Lakshin has set a new record by beating the previous record set by another child, who was able to identify 100 car models in Puducherry.
At the competition held recently, Lakshin started identifying the car models as their pictures were flashed on the screen.
He was able to identify the brands without misspelling their model numbers as well. The car brands spanned from national to international ones including Hindustan Motors, Audi, BMW, Bajaj, Brusa, Bugatti, Caparo, Chevrolet, Chrysler, DC, DMC, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Maruti, Mercedes, Nissan, Tata and Volvo.
Sreedaran, the boy’s father said Lakshin developed an interest for cars since the age of two.
“After we noticed his keen interest in cars, we encouraged him to identify the types. He is so fond of cars that our house is filled with toy cars,” he added.
“You show the models of 210 cars in any order, he would be able to identify them in no time,” he claimed.
Asked about his favourite car, Lakshin quipped “Rolls Royce”. “Of late, my son is curious about knowing the prices of these cars,” his mother said.
Earlier, V G Santhosam, Chairman, V G P Group of Companies, lauded the boy for his talent and wished him success in the automobile sector in future.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / July 29th, 2013
A team of 300-odd youngsters will soon be seen on the streets of Tamil Nadu with their laptops.
They are volunteers from Indian Linux Users Group (ILUG). who have embarked on a major mission to install Linux open source operating system to computers whose users love to get away from Windows.
T. Shrinivasan, an active member of ILUG, said every year several lakhs of people buy desktop computers and laptops loaded with Windows ( Microsoft’s proprietary operating system) for a hefty rate.
“When one can get more facilities with added security in Linux free of cost why should we invest more for a proprietary software?” Shrinivasan asked.
Explaining the objective of the Linux Install Fest, which will take place between August 1 and 31, Shrinivasan said they liked to help the Linux community grow larger in size.
“We have volunteers across the state who will go to houses/educational institutions to install Linux free of cost and we will also help them whenever they have any issues with Linux”, he added.
P. Raman, another Linux enthusiast and ILUG member, lamented that even though Tamil Nadu government installed Linux in its free laptops students had not used it.
“Students don’t have awareness about Linux, which made us think of install fest. We want youngsters to join the Linux revolution across the state”, he said.
Those interested either to volunteer the group or get Linux loaded onto their computer can browse: www. ilugc.in.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / N. Arun Kumr / August 01st, 2013
Online facility will provide details of weather on State roads connecting 13 important destinations, and some Puducherry highways
The next time you plan a long trip that will take you through the State’s highways, you can ensure there are no disruptions to your travel due to bad weather.
The meteorological department has recently introduced an online service ‘Highway Forecast’, which provides details of the weather on highways connecting 13 important destinations in the State, including Chennai, Kodaikanal and Nagapattinam. Highways of Puducherry will also be covered under the service.
The service, available on www.imdchennai.gov.in, will have details of the forecast for the next 24 hours, including maximum and minimum temperature and the possibility of thundershowers or heavy rains.
This type of user-specific weather services is offered by meteorological departments in other countries, including UK and USA. Some private online weather service providers give details for travel-related weather forecast on even an hourly basis or for 15 days.
S.R. Ramanan, director of area cyclone warning centre, said the new service would also help to plan trips by taking into consideration the prevailing weather conditions at their destination.
“We have developed this service with the data available in the weather stations in these locations. We will add more features and places depending on the patronage,” he said.
More, better services
As part of its efforts to upgrade its website and be more user-friendly, the department is in the process of adding more features.
“We have digitised the data on thunderstorms and cyclones. This would be useful for people to check details of thunderstorms in their region and the rainfall received,” said an official.
Statistics on cyclones as well as depressions over Indian seas have also been digitised and have been made available as ‘cyclone e-atlas’. “Earlier, we had to check the old records for any data on cyclones. People can now check the movement of cyclones and specific details by accessing the link of the cyclone warning and research centre,” an official said.
The department plans to add analysis related to winds during tropical cyclones soon. There are also plans to add more tailor-made user services such as venue-specific forecasts.
Mobile service delayed
The launch of mobile weather alert services through text messages is being delayed in the city as the meteorological department is finalising some of the aspects such as the number of weather parameters to be covered and whether it would be a paid or free service.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by K. Lakshmi / Chennai – July 17th, 2013
Unlike most other social workers who have chosen to do service for a living, this 42-year-old orthopaedic surgeon has come to the limelight in Coimbatore doing surgeries free for patients living below the poverty line.
Dr S. Karthik, who is inspired by Vivekananda’s books and quotes, decided to operate on poor patients for free and also educates them through his guidance. He said since he was born and brought up in Coimbatore, he has often visited Ramakrishna Mission in Periyanaickenpalayam to attend seminars to know about Vivekananda’s life history and principles.
A native of Palladam, he now resides along with his family at Ram Nagar residential area. Dr Karthik conducts free medical camp and provides free treatment for residents of the rural area through an organisation called ‘Nesam’.
In the camp, Dr Karthik with the help of a few other doctors, performs free health check-up for sugar, blood pressure and other medical conditions. Recently, they conducted camps at Kothagiri, Kethanur and Bharathi colony. Apart from this, Dr Karthik is also operating on poor children free of cost using Rotary funding.
Speaking to DC, Dr Karthik said he studied in the United Kingdom and had done his fellowship in Australia and New Zealand before returning to Coimbatore. “My aim is to provide the best preventive healthcare to the villages and the poor,” he asserted.
Besides running free camps, Nesam has done surgeries for many labourers injured in road accidents and other industrial mishaps. To make the free service better, Dr Karthik joined a team of doctors in Coimbatore, including Dr R.P. Dharmendra , Dr Bala Senthil Kumaran, Dr Jayanthi, Dr Raghu, Dr Usha and Dr Karthikeyan all of whom specialise in various fields.
Dr Karthik is also looking to extend his preventive healthcare awareness mission to schools in villages where stress levels are at an all-time high.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / V. Palaniappan / July 29th, 2013
S. Harini (25), a Chennaiite, will be in the bio diversity Science Express train till October 2013 as science communicator.
After completing her two-year masters in medical science from Uppsala University in Sweden, she returned to India to work in city hospitals as a technician. But her plans changed when she got selected to work in the science express project of the Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre. Now Harini wants to be a teacher and take simple science lessons for students in India.
Speaking to DC about her work on the Science Express, she said, “Students eagerly go around this train. They are happy trying experiments in the Joy of Science lab in the compartment. Our job is to explain the models and information charts to them. We are surprised by the knowledge of the students.
Compared to urban children, students from remote areas have learnt about the Science Express and await our arrival.”
Harini was awestruck when a group of children and adult visitors in Nagaland explained to her the biodiversity of their forests in detail.
“We learn only through books. But they live in the forest and could talk to us specifically about animals and plants because of their traditional knowledge. I admire those children,” she said. Pendulums to explain Newton’s law, maps of animal and plant species in India, interactive visual boards captivate children, she added.
Harini’s parents, Geetha and Sampath, understand her interests and encourage her to work for her passion.
“I realise that my duty is to work with children and teach them science with easy examples in day-to-day life. In this train, I meet at least 1,000 children a day,” she said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / Pramila Krishnan / July 29th, 2013
Students enjoy the shade under the trees while sitting on the philosopher ‘thrones’ at MCC in Tambaram on Saturday. — DC
Chennai:
MCCians from both hemispheres of the globe crossed several seas and lands to be present at the global alumni meet 2013 in Tambaram on Saturday-Sunday. A Sri Lankan settled in Australia, another in Canada and two Indians in the US did not mind sinking their money in the trip meant solely to be part of the global re-union.
“In those days, we had only one university and only sons of influential people got seats. So, I followed my brother and came to MCC to study,” said M. Karunananthan (74), who hails from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. After graduating with B.Sc. in Botany in 1962 at MCC, Karunananthan went to Brunei and worked as a principal in a school for 30 years.
“Politically things were not good in Sri Lanka and so I chose to settle down in Australia,” said Karunananthan who spent about Rs 1.25 lakh to attend this event. “I used my 30 years’ savings to return to my alma mater. I came because it is a global meet and I wanted to touch base with my friends and classmates,” he said, adding that he and his friends would continue the meeting with a separate party on Sunday night.
Ambi Harsha (66) couldn’t wait for the cricket match to start on Sunday, as the former MCC cricket captain made it to the alumni meet all the way from Santa Barbara, USA.
While the alumni cricketer who passed out with M.Phil in History in 1971 was keen to get back to the field, he was also a little upset because a few of his old friends had passed away. When asked about the absence of some big names like PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Harsha said all of them were equal till they left college.
“We don’t think about big shots. They made it big only after leaving this campus and so we are happy to meet the old bunch who made all efforts to join the re-union,” he added. For Saravanan Kannan (40) it was MCC that helped him develop in life.
As a sports convener and later college union secretary general, the 1995 M.Sc. Physics student dedicates the rise in his career at IBM Software in New Jersey to the planning and implementation that he learnt from organising sports events in his college.
Canadian T. Siva Yogathy, who graduated with B.Com. in 1973, said the re-union was something unique. “We met five years ago to celebrate our B.Com. class re-union. But this global re-union where all batches across departments were invited to one place is simply mind boggling,” he added.
A college visit that evokes nostalgia
Chennai: Where are the classrooms? For a newcomer, Madras Christian College (MCC) would be ideal ground for a treasure hunt, as the 365 acre scrub forest hides most of the buildings.
How much the students in those well concealed classrooms value their green cover became apparent when the cutting down of a few of those very trees occasioned a strike.
Students go on strike for a variety of reasons, including bad hostel food or water shortage, but here they were up in arms against the management for shearing a few of the trees in their midst.
“To reinstate the trees that were to be cut, we planted many new saplings. But, fortunately, the college decided against the planned felling of trees and it made us feel doubly happy,” said K. Chendilnathan, a B.Sc. Zoology alumnus of 1992.
The college has managed to maintain till date the beauty of its natural surroundings, be it the lake or the scrub forest, over a span of the last 76 years. Further, the college has also made sure that the students’ natural talent and interests were not diluted.
“There were no rigid divisions between departments. We used to discuss freely with all our teachers across disciplines,” recalled Dr C. Selvaraj, who passed out with an M.A. in Economics in 1973.
The main grooming ground for the boys were the three ‘Halls’ where the hostel students resided. Day scholars were also attached to one of the Halls. All sports and cultural events were conducted between the three Halls.
An alumnus pointed out that the Halls had their own nicknames, the students of Heber Hall being called ‘barbarians’, Selaiyur Hall students were known as ‘kataans’, and Thomas Hall men were reduced to ‘thaiyer vadais’.
“We used to go for night walks and also ride through the entire circumference of the campus, which extends to 6 km, as part of cross-country events,” recollected Raj Mohanan, who passed out with an M.A. in History in 1997.
One place that always attracted young boys, and now girls, inside the campus were the philosophy ‘thrones’. “We enjoy sitting on these stones under the shade of the trees and discuss things,” said R. Nikitha, a first-year, B.Com student.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / S. Sujatha / July 29th, 2013
Collector Jayashree Muralidharan, along with a group of volunteers, is seen de-silting the Maavadikulam, an irrigation tank, at Ponneripuram near Ponamalaipatti in Thiruverumbur taluk on Sunday. —DC
Tiruchy:
Much to the surprise of the officials and public, collector Jayashree Muralidharan donned the role of an unskilled labourer and dug the earth with spade and removed the mud from the Maavadipatti irrigation tank at Ponneripuram, near Ponamalaipatti, on Sunday to encourage and motivate a group of volunteers engaged in desilting the sprawling 143 acre irrigation tank.
A group of NSS students and volunteers have been engaged in desilting the Maavadipatti irrigation tank at Ponneripuram for the past two weeks.
Collector Jayashree Muralidharan rushed there along with a team of officials, comprising DRDA project director Ramasamy, PWD (RC division) executive engineer Bala subramanian and joint director of agriculture Gururaj Singh. Then, she held a spade and started digging the earth and removing the mud.
“She arrived there at 7 am. But, she held the spade soon after arriving there and started working continuously for five hours except for a short break of just 10 minutes to have her breakfast (idlis) which she had brought from home. She left from there at 12.40 pm,” said sources.
On seeing her digging the earth, other officials also got down to work, the sources said.
About 40 acres of the tank have been under encroachment for many years. The encroachers had raised brinjal and banana on it. But, the officials evicted the encroachments and restored the tank in the presence of revenue divisional officer M. Basheer, the sources said.
“The tank will help irrigate 200 acres of lands in the surrounding areas. If all lakes and irrigation tanks are properly maintained, rainwater can be harvested. The groundwater table will increase and there will be no problem of groundwater in the district”, collector said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / July 29th, 2013
